Trial begins for woman charged with firing gun at PDX

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The woman accused of firing multiple shots inside Portland International Airport over a year ago will now stand trial in Multnomah County court beginning Monday.

Laura Patterson faces 10 separate charges, including four for attempted murder.

The original incident happened the night of Nov. 14, 2023 when Port of Portland police say the 47-year-old came out of a restroom near a TSA checkpoint for the airport’s D and E gates and fired a pistol into the air several times.

Hundreds of travelers and airport workers in the area ran and took cover. Some passengers were rushed back onto planes that had just landed. Others ran, leaving their bags and belongings behind.

No one was injured by the gunshots, which caused $10,000 damage to a window on the airport roof.

Investigators also discovered at the time that Patterson was not a ticketed passenger.

While in police custody, Patterson claimed she drove from her home in Kennewick, Wash. to PDX and fired the gun so she would not kill her family in Texas, according to court documents.

Authorities then found out she wanted to kill the family members because “they are pedophiles and were aware of the sexual abuse but covered it up."

The documents further state that, While Patterson fired the gun to avoid killing her family, she did not think anyone would stop her, according to court documents, which also stated Patterson told authorities she took out the gun and pulled the trigger at PDX “’[because] I wanted to.'"

On Nov. 16, 2023, Patterson made her first court appearance, pleading not guilty to several charges, including attempted murder, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and unlawful use of a weapon.